Identification of a tomato UDP-arabinosyltransferase for airborne volatile reception

植物間コミュニケーションの仕組みを解明 --受容した香りを防御物質に変える遺伝子発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-02-28.Volatiles from herbivore-infested plants function as a chemical warning of future herbivory for neighboring plants. (Z)-3-Hexenol emitted from tomato plants infested by common cutworms is taken up by uninfested plants and converted to (Z)-3-hexenyl β-vicianoside (HexVic). Here we show that a wild tomato species (Solanum pennellii) shows limited HexVic accumulation compared to a domesticated tomato species (Solanum lycopersicum) after (Z)-3-hexenol exposure. Common cutworms grow better on an introgression line containing an S. pennellii chromosome 11 segment that impairs HexVic accumulation, suggesting that (Z)-3-hexenol diglycosylation is involved in the defense of tomato against herbivory. We finally reveal that HexVic accumulation is genetically associated with a uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene cluster that harbors UGT91R1 on chromosome 11. Biochemical and transgenic analyses of UGT91R1 show that it preferentially catalyzes (Z)-3-hexenyl β-D-glucopyranoside arabinosylation to produce HexVic in planta

Serum Adhesion Molecule Levels as Prognostic Markers in Patients with Early Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicentre, Prospective, Observational Study

Objective: To assess the utility of circulating adhesion molecule levels as a prognostic indicator of disease progression in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with early onset disease. Methods: Ninety-two Japanese patients with early onset SSc presenting with diffuse skin sclerosis and/or interstitial lung disease were registered in a multicentre, observational study. Concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) -1, E-selectin, L-selectin, and P-selectin in serum samples from all patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent asssay (ELISA). In 39 patients, adhesion molecule levels were measured each year for four years. The ability of baseline adhesion molecule levels to predict subsequent progression and severity in clinical and laboratory features were evaluated statistically. Results: At their first visit, serum levels of ICAM-1, E-selection, P-selectin were significantly elevated and serum L-selectin levels were significantly reduced in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls. Overall, serum ICAM-1 levels at each time point were significantly inversely associated with the %vital capacity (VC) of the same time and subsequent years by univariate analysis. The initial serum ICAM-1 levels were significantly inversely associated with the %VC at the fourth year by multiple regression analysis. The initial serum P-selectin levels were significantly associated with the health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) at the fourth year by multiple regression analysis. Initial adhesion molecule levels were not significantly associated with other clinical features including skin thickness score. Baseline adhesion molecule levels were not significantly associated with subsequent rate of change of clinical parameters. Conclusion: In patients with SSc, serum levels of ICAM-1 and P-selectin may serve as prognostic indicators of respiratory dysfunction and physical disability, respectively. Further longitudinal studies of larger populations are needed to confirm these findings

The effects of anti-histamines on the regional cerebral blood flow during a car driving simulation game

It is well known that anti-histamines have significant CNS side effects such as sleepiness and impaired psychomotor performance, which might induce traffic accidents. There are some reports about the effects of anti-histamines on a car driving performance, but the mechanism has not been understood yet. We examined the changes of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during a simulated car driving after oral administration of sedative anti-histamine by positron emission tomography (PET). Right-handed, healthy male volunteers (n=7, age 20-25 y. o. ) performed a car driving on a simulated game after oral administration of d-chlorpheniramine (6mg) and placebo. Their rCBF was examined during 1) rest with closed eye, 2) playing a game (active driving) by PET with H2 15O. After oral administration of placebo, the significant increase of rCBF was found in the occipital lobe (Brodmann Area 17, 18, 19), parietal lobe (BA 7) and cerebellum during active driving compared with the resting condition(p<0. 001). Compared to placebo, d- chlorpheniramine produced the significant increase of rCBF in the frontal lobe (BA 6, 8, 9, 11) and temporal lobe (BA 21) during active driving(p<0. 005). It suggests that more attention to visual perception, decision and sensori- motor control is needed after administration of anti- histamines than placebo

Brake reaction time during actual car-driving examination: comparative study of fexofenadine and hydroxyzine

To assess the effects of sedative and non-sedatinve antihistamines on psychometric performance related to car driving, an on-the-road test of brake reaction time (BRT) was measured using an experimental car. In a 3-way, double blind randomised crossover study, 18 healthy volunteers received hydroxyzine 30 mg, fexofenadine 120 mg and placebo over a 4 hour period with a washout period of 7 days between treatments. Psychometric assessments included on-the-road BRT and subjective measures of sedation and sleep parameters. Subjects were also requested to perform BRI tasks under the following conditions; 1) baseline BRT measurement (the car did not run), 2) during normal driving, 3) during driving and talking on the celluar phone. As a result, fexofenadine had no significant effect on BRI compared with placebo. Subjective sleepiness was not impaired, either, with fexofenadine. Hydroxyzine 30 mg impaired BRT during driving and talking on the phone and subjective tests. In conclusion, fexofenadine 120 mg has no psychomotor toxicity and has no negative impact on BRT

The Validity of Quadriceps Muscle Thickness as a Nutritional Risk Indicator in Patients with Stroke

This study aimed to investigate whether quadriceps muscle thickness (QMT) is useful for nutritional assessment in patients with stroke. This was a retrospective cohort study. Nutritional risk was assessed using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), with GNRI < 92 indicating a risk of malnutrition and GNRI ≥ 92 indicating normal conditions. Muscle mass was assessed using QMT and calf circumference (CC). The outcome was Functional Independence Measure (FIM) effectiveness. The cutoff values of QMT and CC for discriminating between high and low GNRI were determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The accuracy of the nutritional risk discrimination model was evaluated using the Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC). Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between nutritional risk, as defined by QMT and CC, and FIM effectiveness. A total of 113 patients were included in the analysis. The cutoff values of QMT and CC for determining nutritional risk were 49.630 mm and 32.0 cm for men (MCC: 0.576; 0.553) and 41.185 mm and 31.0 cm for women (MCC: 0.611; 0.530). Multiple regression analysis showed that only nutritional risk defined by QMT was associated with FIM effectiveness. These findings indicate that QMT is valid for assessing nutritional risk in patients with stroke